Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-LA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. relatio, refero.]

1. The act of telling; recital; account; narration; narrative of facts; as, a historical relation. We listened to the relation of his adventures.
2. Respect; reference; regard. I have been importuned to make some observations on this art, in relation to its agreement with poetry. – Dryden.
3. Connection between things; mutual respect, or what one thing is with regard to another; as, the relation of a citizen to the state; the relation of a subject to the supreme authority; the relation of husband and wife, or of master and servant; the relation of a state of probation to a state of retribution.
4. Kindred; alliance; as, the relation of parents and children. Relations dear, and all the charities / Of father, son and brother, first were known. – Milton.
5. A person connected by consanguinity or affinity; a kinsman or kinswoman. He passed a month with his relations in the country.
6. Resemblance of phenomena; analogy.
7. In geometry, ratio; proportion.